October 16 – Let the poor say I am rich

The little that the righteous man has is better than the abundance of many wicked people.  For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord supports the righteous.  (Psalm 37:16-17 HCSB)

Did you know that you are richer with God, than a Fortune 500 tycoon without God?  Many self-proclaimed Christians would swap out their “faith” for a tycoon’s wealth, given the chance.  I’m certain of that. I’ve seen enough people in financial straights pray with such fervor for God to rescue them from their troubles, and then become too busy for God once He answers their prayers with a decent job.  Next thing you know they’ve fallen back into old sinful habits and don’t know why.  

The world has it all backwards.  When God and His ways are top priority in our lives, we are rich. Period.  Even with less possessions, we are always richer than those who don’t prioritize Him. 

This principle is visible in our acts of tithing and offering giving. We start off with a smaller value in our bank account, but because what we gave was done in a holy and reverent way, the remainder becomes blessed and protected.  We are able to use what is left for all our needs, it even multiplies, doors of opportunity open, and we avoid unexpected attacks on our finances that the devil and his devouring spirits plot against us.  

But this principle also plays out in variety of ways, in all aspects of our lives.  The teenager who is made fun of because she stays pure for God and won’t party with the popular crowd may feel left out, but in fact she is being blessed day by day with a wealth of wisdom, with open paths for her future career and studies, and eventually happy and blessed marriage when she is mature enough for the responsibility, all because she lives each day to please God above her flesh.  The man who feels ashamed because he can’t provide for his family while his rich cousin proudly throws his money around, has nothing to be ashamed of because he is investing his daily efforts and faith into honoring God above all.  He has a happy family to greet him every night after work, and a faith that will allow God to take his career father than he ever imagined.  When he doesn’t allow the world’s ideas to make him insecure, he realizes that he is so rich, that he even feels sorry for his cousin. 

When blessings are given to us by God, and not taken out of our own greed, they are lasting and able to give us joy.  We don’t worship money or possessions, but we worship the One who graciously gave them to us.  When God sees that we are faithful in the few things that He gives us, faithful to honor Him first, and faithful to keep our hearts humble and obedient to Him, no matter how much or how little we have, He is pleased to grant us much more.  He knows we can handle blessings without envy or greed.  This quality of trust is what He is looking for, because this is the key to receiving the fulfillment to all of His promises.